Dhoni stresses importance of part-time bowlers

Thursday, 13 September 2012 00:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ESPNcricinfo: MS Dhoni feels India’s batsmen have contributed well as part-time bowlers in the absence of a genuine allrounder in the squad. Dhoni also said conditions in Sri Lanka had changed over the years and there wasn’t much help for spinners during India’s limited-overs tour to the country in July and August.

“We are a team who rely strongly on batting. But some of the top batsmen play the role of part-timers,” Dhoni said after arriving in Colombo for the World Twenty20. “In T20 cricket, part-timers are very important. Our part-timers have been doing well.

“We also don’t have a genuine all-rounder so we have to rely on part-time bowlers who are specialist batsmen. Yuvraj [Singh] is one and we have Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina. They will chip in an over each and that makes it a lot easier for us.”

Dhoni was pleased to have Yuvraj back in the side but refused to comment on his selection soon after recovering from a rare cancer. “It’s a selection matter. But I am happy that he is in the team as he is a champion player and a match-winner. He also brings a balance in the team as in T20 cricket you don’t include a fifth bowler.”

India will be based in Colombo during the World Twenty20. Dhoni said playing at one venue would help but also felt that conditions could still change as the tournament progressed. “We won’t be travelling much. We can put in a bit more effort in the net session and skill-oriented session. “I feel the conditions in Sri Lanka have changed a lot in the past years. When we came here in 2005, the wickets were different and when we came here last time [in July 2012], the wickets were different. The spinners did not get much help from the pitches in the five ODIs and one T20 we played here in our last tour.

“If a ground is hosting many matches, then it will slow down and the spinners will get help. So we have to see the conditions and plan accordingly.”